Urine pump for condom catheters and method for using

Abstract

An apparatus and method for collecting urine from an incontinent person including a condom catheter fluidly coupled to the inlet of a urine pump, with the outlet of the pump fluidly coupled to a urine collection bag suspended about the person's abdomen by an integral strap. The pump is fastened to the strap adjacent to the urine bag. The pump mechanism has a resilient flexible tubular section that is provided with inlet and outlet check valves and functions by displacing liquid present within the tubular section by physically deforming the tubing. A cam, driven by a solenoid, causes a crimping of the tubular section which expels fluid through pump discharge. When the force causing physical deformation is released, the resilient tubular section returns to its original shape, providing a suction at the pump inlet. For continuous or intermittent pumping, the solenoid is repeatedly actuated and de-energized according to a timing sequence that is user controllable according to expected urine leakage conditions via the electronic control circuitry. When the user wishes to urinate, the user may simply void in the normal fashion, as free flow of urine through pump assembly is permitted. A manual activation switch allows the user to pump accumulating fluid from the condom catheter independently of the timing sequence, if needed.

Description

[0001] This application is based upon provisional application 60 / 471,432 filed on May 16, 2003, the priority of which is claimed.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] This invention relates generally to urine collection devices for persons who suffer from uncontrollable urine leakage and specifically to a urine pump which allows a condom catheter to be used in conjunction with a urine collection container which is disposed above the level of the urethral opening of a user.[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art[0005] There are several hundred thousand people in the U.S. alone who continually wear an internal indwelling urinary drainage catheter, coined a "Foley" catheter after the doctor who invented it. A user continuously wears a Foley catheter for two principle reasons--the inability to void (urinate) and incontinence (leakage) of urine. The Foley catheter is inserted into the bladder through the urethra and is designed to be held in place by a balloon located at the bladder end ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0019] Another object of the invention is to provide a urine pump which is lightweight and inexpensive. Although the pump may include an osmotic pump, a roller pump, solenoids or linear actuators, for the size, cost and ease of use a simple solenoid or roller actuator is preferred.

0020] Another object of the invention is to isolate the urine from the pumping mechanism so that the mechanism will not be subject to the corrosive salts inherent in urine.

0021] Another object of the invention is to provide a urine collection system which uses inexpensive and replaceable tubing and valves which last for 30 days, which are user friendly, and which are easy to replace.

0022] Another object of the invention is to provide a urine collection system which allows the free flow of urine to the collection bag between pump cycles so that a normal voiding episode can occur.

0023] Another object of the invention is to provide a urine collection system which has a self-contained power supply. The system preferably uses batteries, or a rechargeable battery pack which is easily snapped in place.

Problems solved by technology

A Foley catheter is typically changed every thirty days because mineral salts, normally present in urine, tend to accumulate and obstruct the catheter.

However, the leg bag has significant drawbacks, including difficulty in concealing the bag, difficulty in emptying the bag, and a restriction of normal activities of daily living because of embarrassment from bag bulging, leaking, and difficulty of concealment.

More significantly, the leg bag has a tendency to slide down the leg as it gets full.

A wearer must tighten the holding straps to keep the bag from falling down the leg, which results in bruising and skin damage.

Lastly, the leg bag is not suitable for sleeping because of its limited capacity.

However, this bag is particularly subject to the wearer catching, snagging or stepping on the inlet tubing which can result in the wearer falling or in an inadvertent extraction of the Foley catheter with its balloon inflated, with resulting trauma and bleeding.

Extracting the catheter with its balloon inflated can result in sepsis, the dissemination of the blood with bacteria, and occasionally, death.

However, opening the drainage system to change from a bedside to leg bag or vice versa violates the accepted standard to keep drainage systems closed to prevent exposure to outside environmental (nonsocomial) foreign organisms, and thus can result in significant infections of the upper urinary tract and bloodstream.

If a condom catheter is used to propel urine upwards to a belly bag, urine will accumulate in the condom and tubing leading to the bag, resulting in possible infection, maceration, erosion, ulceration and necrosis (tissue death) of the penile tissues.

However, many of the same problems inherent with the bedside and leg bags used with Foley catheters, described above, apply to these bags when used with the condom catheter: Wearers trip on bedside bag tubing, the leg bag bruises tissue and damages skin, and the bags negatively affect an active lifestyle.

Additionally, since many wearers have limited mobility from paralysis, stroke, etc., the difficulties of draining these bags pose a very troublesome problem.

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